Mary Elizabeth Fairley was 94 years old when she peacefully passed away surrounded by her family on March 16, 2025, while residing at Linden Court in North Platte, NE.
Mary was born February 8, 1931, to Emmett and Grace (Lay) Eagan at Hutchinson, KS, where she grew up. After graduating from Hutchinson High School in 1948 she attended Hutchinson Junior College, graduating from there in 1950. Years later Mary went back to school and earned her Bachelor's Degree in Education from Kearney State College in 1976.
On June 2, 1950, Mary was united in marriage to Carol C. Fairley at the First Christian Church in Hutchinson then the couple moved to North Platte a few months later. This union was blessed with two girls and two boys. Mary was an elementary substitute teacher for North Platte Public Schools then became a librarian at the North Platte Public Library in 1959. She worked as a children's librarian for 32 years until retiring in 1991.
When Mary was a youth, she earned her Girl Scout Gold Bar Award then when her girls were young she served as a Girl Scout Leader and was Secretary to Guiding Star Girl Scout Council. Mary was also an R.S.V.P. volunteer for many years and an active member of First Christian Church where she served as Diaconate, Elder and Elder Emeritus, taught Sunday School and was secretary to the board and the C.W.F.
Carol and Mary celebrated over 61 years of marriage and enjoyed traveling. Together they visited the Holy Land, Europe, South America, Mexico, Alaska and Hawaii. Mary also got to enjoy a Caribbean cruise with the girls. In her free time, Mary liked to knit, making many prayer shawls over the years, and loved reading. She also enjoyed sewing when her kids were younger.
She is survived by her children, Marilyn Kolesar of Sun Lakes, AZ, John(Linda) Fairley of Minatare and William (Mary) Fairley of North Platte; son-in-law, Calvin Clinger of North Platte; grandchildren, Shaun Clinger, Lt. Col. Jared (Jennifer) Clinger, Crystal (Santos) Contreras, Timothy (Shannon) Kolesar, Joshua (Christy) Fairley, Tammy Reynolds, Dr. Ryan (Kaitlin) Fairley and Amy Fairley; 14 great-grandchildren; 4 great great-grandchildren; two nephews, Ron Knerr and Lawrence Kemper; and other family.
Mary was preceded in death by her husband, Carol, and daughter, Patricia Clinger; parents, Emmett and Grace Eagan; her sister, Caroline Knerr; niece, Judy Knerr; and grandson, Paul Kolesar.
Services are 11 a.m., Friday, March 21, at First Christian Church. Burial follows in Floral Lawns Memorial Gardens. Visitation is Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and with family greeting from 4-6 p.m. at Odean Colonial Chapel at C & Sycamore, which is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences may be shared at odeanchapel.com. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to First Christian Church or North Platte Public Library Children's Room.